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December 31 deadline to Nominate North Coast Mobile Black Spot Sites

Federal Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker reminded his electorate that the deadline looms to nominate mobile phone black spot locations across the North Coast to be considered for a new mobile phone tower or upgraded coverage.

Nominations of mobile black spot locations in the Cowper electorate need to be submitted by December 31to be considered in Round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme.

“I know there will be residents who are keen to submit their areas as locations for upgrades and the Federal Government has committed $60 million to help fund new or upgrade mobile coverage areas across the North Coast,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“We know more than anyone in regional and rural areas that we need mobile coverage to conduct business efficiently and maintain our social connections.”

The Federal Government has invested $100 million under Round 1 of the programme which will see almost 500 new mobile base stations built nationally.

“I developed the Mobile Black Spot Programme when the Coalition was in Opposition, and I was delighted to see this policy adopted by the Federal Government and the continuing difference it is making in regional Australia,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

Four new base stations at Brooms Heads, Hickeys Creek, Minnie Water and Taylors Arm were selected for funding under Round 1 of the programme, which will help address 14 different mobile coverage black spots on the North Coast.

Locations nominated in this second round as mobile black spots by people will be added to a national database. Black spots not set to receive new or upgraded coverage under Round 1 of the programme will remain in the database as eligible locations for Round 2.

The competitive selection process is scheduled to begin in early 2016, and the Government expects to announce the successful locations under Round 2 by the end of 2016.

Over 6,000 locations were nominated under Round 1 of the programme, with Round 1 set to provide new or upgraded coverage to around 3,000 of the nominated black spots.

A map of mobile black spot locations and the locations which will receive new or upgraded coverage under the Programme is available on the National Map:

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